標籤: Luka

LOS ANGELES – Luka Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season amid more interaction with the referees during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-113 loss against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Another technical foul and Doncic would automatically receive a one-game suspension. But amid their interactions on the court, Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Doncic’s competitive fire is second to none.

Before the Lakers’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, JJ Redick explained how he will go to battle with Doncic every night.

“He’s a special type of player, a special type of person and a special type of competitor,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “I’d prefer someone who’s going out every night and trying to kill, rather than someone who you literally have to revive with a defibrillator every other day. I’d take Luca all day.”

Doncic’s latest interaction with the referee resulted in a technical foul that was somewhat puzzling. Jamal Murray hit a 3-point shot in transition, and one of the officials immediately called a technical foul on Doncic, despite him not even looking the referee’s way as he walked back onto the court.

Doncic was incredibly heartbroken by what happened, and was not given a full explanation until after the game via the pool report. Crew chief Ed Malloy explained that the technical foul on Doncic actually occurred before the game, but officials called for the defense not to stop the transition play for the technical foul. The argument was that Doncic had used profanity toward officials earlier in the play.

The Lakers have 19 games remaining in the regular season after Friday’s matchup against the Pacers. Teams will definitely have to be aware of Doncic’s technical fouls and reactions during the final stretch of the year. Once the playoffs arrive, the technical foul count is reset, but suspensions begin early with seven.

Doncic is in the running for the MVP award this season, his first full year with the Lakers. Coming into Friday’s game, he had appeared in 50 games averaging just over 35 minutes per game. He is averaging a league-leading 32.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from the 3-point line and 77 percent from the free-throw line.

Doncic is also leading the NBA in 3-point shot attempts (3.7), 3-point shot attempts (10.2) and free-throw attempts (10.3).

The Los Angeles Lakers lost 120-113 to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, but the biggest conversation afterward focused on Luka Doncic and a tricky technical foul during the Western Conference matchup. The Lakers star recorded his 15th technical foul of the season in the loss to the Nuggets, causing confusion among fans and players inside the arena. After the game, referee Ed Malloy clarified the situation in the official pool report shared by Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register.

“Doncic was issued a technical foul for using profanity toward a referee. We are not trained to stop offensive turnovers when a technical foul is called on defense.”

The clarification helped explain why the whistle did not come immediately. Officials allowed play to continue before assessing a penalty at the next dead-ball moment. Still, the delay left many wondering what actually caused the call to occur.

The moment also overshadowed another strong performance from Doncic under the arena lights. The Lakers guard finished with 27 points on 11 of 24 shooting, while adding 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. His influence was visible on the entire game. Yet technical fouls soon became the main story after the Lakers lost another tough matchup against the Nuggets.

Lakers star reacts after controversial technical

Doncic addressed that moment directly after the game. The Lakers guard insisted he tried to remain quiet during the conversation.

Luka Doncic said he heard three other players “yelling” at him for his 15th technical foul of the season.

“I was trying not to talk at all. The first thing I said was no warnings or anything.” https://t.co/KBmkywJXV0 pic.twitter.com/EqR4RCV0rA

– Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) 6 March 2026

“I was trying not to talk at all. The first thing I said was no warnings or nothing,” Doncic said.

Technology has real consequences. It was his 15th of the season. Under NBA rules, a player automatically receives a one-game suspension after reaching 16 technical fouls.

Reporters asked the Lakers starter whether he planned to avoid the second one.

“We’ll see. Can’t predict the future,” he said.

Then he gave a blunt answer about what should happen next.

“Don’t take another technique.”

The Lakers are moving forward now knowing that another blowout could sideline their star. Under the bright lights of the field and the pressure of the playoffs, every word and whistle carries more weight. After Luka Doncic’s technical foul, will the Lakers star survive his 16th whistle, or will the next whistle bring a suspension?

The Los Angeles Lakers have been steadying the ship in recent games and are currently riding a three-game winning streak that started against the Golden State Warriors at the beginning of the month. However, in the same game, Luka Doncic and JJ Redick got into an argument on the sideline, which ended when Jared Vanderbilt smartly stepped in while Doncic stood up and appeared intent on continuing the argument after Redick left.

That particular incident, despite being played down by the head coach, drew criticism from Miami Heat veteran and three-time champion Udonis Haslem, who believes Doncic needs to develop.

“The next step in Luka Doncic’s development, stop whining. Stop complaining to the refs. You’re not going to beg your way to a title, you’re not going to cry your way to a championship.”

Udonis Haslem’s message for Lakers star

(via @NBAonPrime)pic.twitter.com/nFSe4XkhzA

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 6 March 2026

“I don’t have a problem with temper tantrums in the middle of the game, but JJ is standing there waiting until Luka says what he needs to say. It feels worse when JJ is walking away and you jump up like you have to say something. Whatever you have to say, the communication has to be man-to-man. When you talk to your teammates or talk with your head down, not at the person you have to talk to.” “It needs to be done,” he said, according to a clip on X by ClutchPoints.

Redick himself played down the incident, claiming that the argument was ‘very normal’ and that he had a great relationship with Doncic, who has continued his impressive run of games since then. However, Haslem also believes that the Slovenian needs to focus his energy on his own game rather than complaining too much to the referee.

“Next step in Luka Doncic’s development, stop whining. Stop complaining to the refs. You wouldn’t be begging for a title for yourself, you wouldn’t be crying for yourself for a championship. You’re great as a player, when you’re focusing so much energy and efforts on complaining to the refs, you’re taking away from your game,” Haslem said.

He compared the situation to a young Jayson Tatum, claiming that the Celtics’ talisman had a similar habit of complaining to referees too much. That habit led Haslem to tell his teammates that ‘they were on his mind,’ claiming that when it came to players of Tatum or Doncic’s caliber, even a 3-4 minute period where they focused on outside factors was “all the leverage” the opposition sometimes needed.

So, while Haslem is well aware of Doncic’s offensive juggernaut, he believes it may be better for the Lakers superstar to focus more on his game.

在过去的几天里，人们对洛杉矶湖人队主教练雷迪克和卢卡东契奇在最近战胜金州勇士队的比赛中的对抗性交流进行了很多讨论。在129-101获胜的过程中，雷迪克和东契奇等人之间的激烈争吵似乎在贾里德·范德比尔特挡住东契奇并凝视远方时开始鼓掌时被驱散。

虽然雷迪克本人此后淡化了这一事件，但根据 NBA Courtside 在 X 上的一篇帖子，一名唇语读者现在已经解读了两人之间的交流。在视频中，可以看到他准确地追踪了两人之间所说的话。

卢卡·东契奇和 JJ·雷迪克场边互动 👀

JJ：你有什么问题吗？啊？你把我的手推开。你在生气什么？

卢卡：我没有

JJ：他妈的坐下

卢卡：什么？哟！

（通过 @legendz_prod） pic.twitter.com/k8LX3Redew

— NBA 场边 (@NBA__Courtside) 2026 年 3 月 6 日

“JJ 告诉卢卡，‘你有什么问题？你有什么问题？’卢卡试图解释说他没有做错任何事，然后事情就发生了，”该读者说。

然而，当主教练要求他坐下时，东契奇最终生气了。

剪辑显示：“JJ 然后告诉卢卡‘滚吧’，他对此感到生气。”

随后东契奇站了起来，威胁要对已经开始走开的雷迪克做出回应。然而，几乎是出于本能，东契奇的队友范德比尔特跳了出来，试图化解局势。

“正如你所看到的，范德比尔特试图缓和气氛并告诉卢卡，‘来吧，坐下来。’”

当然，雷迪克本人也回应了这一争议，声称他与卢卡关系很好，并认为这次交流完全正常。与此同时，人们对这一事件进行了很多讨论，一些人暗示湖人队的两位著名人物之间存在不和。

然而，情况似乎并非如此，读唇者也将这种交流解释为肾上腺素的结果，而不是更严重的争执。这尤其会让球迷松一口气，因为湖人队自比赛以来已经取得了三连胜。

在過去的幾天裡，人們對洛杉磯湖人隊主教練雷迪克和盧卡東契奇在最近戰勝金州勇士隊的比賽中的對抗性交流進行了很多討論。在129-101獲勝的過程中，雷迪克和東契奇等人之間的激烈爭吵似乎在賈里德·范德比爾特擋住東契奇並凝視遠方時開始鼓掌時被驅散。

雖然雷迪克本人此後淡化了這一事件，但根據 NBA Courtside 在 X 上的一篇帖子，一名唇語讀者現在已經解讀了兩人之間的交流。在影片中，可以看到他準確地追蹤了兩人之間所說的話。

盧卡·東契奇和 JJ·雷迪克場邊互動 👀

JJ：你有什麼問題嗎？啊？你把我的手推開。你在生氣什麼？

盧卡：我沒有

JJ：他媽的坐下

盧卡：什麼？喲！

（透過 @legendz_prod） pic.twitter.com/k8LX3Redew

— NBA 場邊 (@NBA__Courtside) 2026 年 3 月 6 日

「JJ 告訴盧卡，『你有什麼問題？你有什麼問題？』」盧卡試圖解釋他沒有做錯任何事，然後事情就發生了，」該讀者說。

然而，當主教練要求他坐下時，東契奇最終生氣了。

剪輯顯示：“JJ 然後告訴盧卡‘滾吧’，他對此感到生氣。”

隨後東契奇站了起來，威脅要對已經開始走開的雷迪克做出回應。然而，幾乎是出於本能，東契奇的隊友范德比爾特跳了出來，試圖化解局勢。

“正如你所看到的，范德比爾特試圖緩和氣氛並告訴盧卡，’來吧，坐下來。’”

當然，雷迪克本人也回應了這一爭議，聲稱他與盧卡關係很好，並認為這次交流完全正常。同時，人們對這事件進行了很多討論，有些人暗示湖人隊的兩位著名人物之間存在不和。

然而，情況似乎並非如此，讀唇者也將這種交流解釋為腎上腺素的結果，而不是更嚴重的爭執。這尤其會讓球迷鬆一口氣，因為湖人隊自比賽以來已經取得了三連勝。

The Lakers were able to pull off a thrilling win over the Pelicans as they set their sights on the Nuggets on Thursday to snap a three-game winning streak. After the game, Doncic got a question he’s answered many times before.

Since the All-Star break, there has been talk about whether the Lakers’ “Big Three” LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be fit. There has been increased conversation in the media, especially when statistics show that lineups with LeBron James and only Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves have a better Net Rating. Likewise, lineups with just LeBron on the floor and Doncic and Reeves on the bench have a better Nets rating.

As there is strong debate over whether the three Lakers stars are actually a fit, Luka signaled his disdain for the conversation in a post-game interview following the win over the Pelicans.

“Are you guys going to ask me this question every night?”

Although reluctant to continue speaking further on the topic, he responded.

“I think that’s what everybody sees. We’ve obviously won three in a row. We’ve been playing together since the All-Star break… Obviously we’re going to have chemistry every day, every game.”

The Lakers are currently 37-24, holding the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They are two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Suns in the play-in tournament. Their game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday is important, as Denver is just one game ahead of Los Angeles in wins.

After a season in which all three stars missed significant time, the Lakers finally feel like they have a relatively healthy roster as they head into a very important stretch of games that includes matchups against playoff teams like the Nuggets, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Rockets.

Speculation over a possible rift between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick was put to rest Tuesday when ESPN insider Dave McMenamin publicly addressed the situation, saying there is no feud between the Los Angeles Lakers star and head coach.

Speaking on ESPN’s NBA Today, McMenamin spoke at length with league and team sources after video of Saturday’s 129-101 win over the Golden State Warriors circulated online.

“I checked with people around the league and within the team and I’ll let you know my report,” McMenamin said. “A source around the league said when they saw the video – L.A. is different, the smallest thing turns into the biggest thing. A source close to Luka told me that he and JJ have a strong, close relationship that goes back almost a decade and they are both extremely competitive and they push each other.”

The moment in question came when Doncic exited the game and headed to the bench. Redick grabbed Doncic’s wrist in an apparent attempt to talk him down. Doncic pulled out and remained in his seat, while Redick followed him. The two exchanged words before Reddick walked away. Doncic then stood as if continuing a conversation, while Jared Vanderbilt stood beside him to prevent him from moving forward.

“If you’ve been around an NBA basketball team full of guys who live to compete, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to move toward a common goal.”@mcten On the relationship between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/T9eK9L5Tsv

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 3 March 2026

Lakers insider shuts down speculation about Luka Doncic-JJ Redick feud

The altercation quickly spread on social media, leading to speculation that there was tension between the franchise’s key player and the first-year head coach.

McMenamin continued by emphasizing the competitive context behind the exchange.

“A team source said, “Find me a star in the NBA who isn’t down in the middle of a three-game losing streak, and so it’s much ado about nothing, but we know the Internet loves to entertain itself. In this case, if you’ve been around an NBA basketball team that lives to compete, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to move toward a common goal.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have faced intense scrutiny throughout the season, especially after the high-profile acquisition of Doncic and Redick’s transition from analyst to head coach. Competitive exchanges between players and coaches are common in NBA locker rooms, especially during offseasons.

Los Angeles entered Tuesday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans in sixth place in the Western Conference with a score of 36-24. The Lakers will look to extend their two-game winning streak as they continue their push toward the postseason.

Despite putting in big numbers this year, Luka Doncic has faced heavy criticism this season. From the discussion about his foul play to a heliocentric game that people consider “undesirable”, Doncic has gone through a lot of discussion as the Lakers try to steady themselves in the final stretch of the regular season.

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors star and host of his eponymous podcast, decided to weigh in on the discussion, taking the media to task for its criticism of Doncic, but saying it was the same criticism that prompted Harrison to be traded in the first place.

A lot of people crushed on Nico for the reasons he gave. When Nico gave those reasons everyone said he was ridiculous, he was crazy. Now when I turn on the TV all I see is the media that trashed Nico, which essentially got him fired, repeating the same things Nico Harrison was saying. I haven’t seen anyone come out and say, ‘Hey Nico, I’m sorry for the things I said about you when you did these things because I said the same things out of my own mouth.’

Green said, “It has nothing to do with Luca and it has nothing to do with the media and Nico Harrison. Nico gave his reasoning for why he felt it was the right move. Everyone said ‘You’re an idiot.’

Harrison’s criticism of Doncic focused on a mix of on-court and off-court factors. The former Mavericks star was due to receive a five-year, $345 million supermax extension in the summer of 2025 and Harrison raised issues about Doncic’s condition, off-court habits and a chronic calf strain that sidelined him to the point of being traded to the Lakers.

Harrison was eventually relieved of his duties with the Mavericks after a disappointing start to the season.

There are many words to describe Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic. But for coach JJ Redick, one adjective stands out, and he heard it from an old mentor.

The Lakers earned an easy win for the second consecutive night after defeating the Sacramento Kings 128-104 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. They defeated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday at Chase Center.

Doncic was remarkable in both games. Against the Kings, he had a game-high 28 points on 10 of 16 shooting, five rebounds and nine assists. Despite slipping on the floor in the third quarter, he made a spectacular shot.

When asked about it, coach JJ Redick had the perfect word to describe Doncic: Daring.

“Coach K always used the word ‘courageous,'” he said, referring to his former coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, in a video posted by Khobi Price of the California Post.

“There is courage in Luka’s game. One of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.”

JJ Redick on this shot from Luka Doncic: “Coach K always used the word daring; daring is in Luka’s game. One of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.” https://t.co/mgJ6yaREa3 pic.twitter.com/F21IikmqFe

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 2 March 2026

Since entering the NBA as a teenager from Slovenia, Doncic has mesmerized fans with his daring performances, including making shots from beyond the three-point area and delivering nearly impossible passes.

He has mastered court angles, using his high intelligence and speed to beat defenders despite his lack of speed and athleticism.

Doncic’s highlight reel is full of how-ever shots he made, and he’ll happily add his wild bucket against the Kings to it.

Redick has known Doncic since they were teammates on the Dallas Mavericks, and while the second-year coach isn’t afraid to rein in his players, he wouldn’t dare demand his prized star change his style.

LOS ANGELES – After a three-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to get back on track with consecutive blowout wins, most recently a 128-104 win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. During the Lakers’ loss, fans and media alike criticized him, and then started singing praises after the win, but Luka Doncic didn’t pay any attention to it.

After the Lakers’ win against the Kings, Luka Doncic talked about not thinking too far ahead and staying grounded while blocking out what outside voices have to say.

“Obviously it was two great wins. But we have to take it game by game,” Doncic said. “Obviously there’s a lot of noise outside. I try not to pay attention to that. We’ve got to go game by game and the last two games have been good.”

Doncic did his part in helping the Lakers get the narrow win. He finished with a game-high 28 points in 29 minutes while shooting 10 of 16 from the field, 4 of 8 from the 3-point line and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also added five rebounds, nine assists, one steal and one blocked shot.

Earlier in the season, Doncic was a strong contender for the MVP award. Although those discussions have cooled off since then, it’s possible he finds himself back in the running depending on how the rest of the Lakers’ season goes.

Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring with 32.6 points per game. He also averaged 7.7 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals while splitting 47.1 percent shooting from the field, 35.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Following the Lakers’ win against the Warriors, head coach JJ Redick spoke about his confidence in the team still being able to reach the level of competitiveness he wants them to perform on a consistent basis. After the win against the Kings, he also admitted not to get too caught up in outside noise.

“The world has fallen for us 19 times. It’s part of the nature of this cycle,” Redick said. “As I’ve talked about every game, our players have bounced back and responded well throughout the season. We’re tied for fifth and a few games into the loss column and none of these teams are coming at us. We’re just going to keep playing to win.”

The Lakers’ next chance to add to their current winning streak is on Tuesday, March 3 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Los Angeles Lakers were so in control of Sunday night’s contest against the Sacramento Kings that it looked like Luka Doncic had to pull out a few tricks from the deepest recesses of his bag to entertain himself and the fans at Crypto.com Arena. With less than four minutes left in the third quarter, Doncic nailed an improbable three-pointer after a move that belongs more in streetball than in a professional basketball setting.

Doncic found himself pinned down by Kings defender Daquan Plowden and tried to hightail it to the basket. But as soon as he saw Plowden off balance, Doncic tried to step back for a three-pointer. Even he couldn’t match his speed and eventually slipped, but he still had control over the basketball. He then proceeded to dribble behind the line perform an inclined triple drill On the competition of Plowden.

“I did it on purpose. And the -1 mixtape? That’s what they were saying on the bench,” Doncic said in his postgame presser, via Khobi Price of the California Post.

Luka Doncic: “I did it on purpose. And 1 mixtape? That’s what they were saying on the bench.” https://t.co/mgJ6yaREa3 pic.twitter.com/rML58vYimu

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 2 March 2026

Doncic may have said he did it intentionally in jest, but it’s hard not to take him seriously at this point. After all, the Lakers were toying with the Kings all night, and that shot only proves that they were far ahead of them on the night.

Luka Doncic, Lakers bring good vibes

The Lakers have been a little inconsistent lately, and considering Deandre Ayton isn’t very happy with his role for the team, the vibes haven’t been too spotty. But this win over the Kings at least helped boost the morale of the entire team, and Doncic’s And-1 mixtape-esque shot served to further unify the team.

The Lakers will look to continue their winning ways on Tuesday when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans at home.

Luka Doncic may be the face of the Los Angeles Lakers, but that doesn’t exempt him from some classic locker room danger. After the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday night, the birthday boy decided to express some complaints about his teammates’ gift-giving habits, or lack thereof.

During his on-court interview after his impressive 26-point performance, Doncic, who turns 27 on Friday, jokingly called out the team. “Nobody has given me a gift yet, it’s crazy,” the superstar guard said with a smile.

The joke didn’t stop here. While Austin Reeves tried to handle his own media duties in the locker room afterward, Doncic decided to interrupt by hitting two towels at the third-year guard. Reeves didn’t make a move and responded laughing, “I actually got a gift for you, you’re crazy!”

Luca throws 2 towels at Austin

“I actually brought a gift for you, you idiot”🤣 pic.twitter.com/d4zAAoiX1S

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 1 March 2026

The light-hearted conversation highlights the growing chemistry in Los Angeles that is ultimately translating into the win column. The Lakers didn’t just talk big games; He played one. Along with Doncic, Reeves provided a big spark off the bench. He finished the night with 18 points and three assists, and shot an efficient 7-11 from the floor.

DeAndre Ayton took over on defense and dominated the boards, scoring four points and 10 rebounds, helping the Lakers overcome a Warriors team led by Gui Santos’ 14 points.

Winning fixes everything, and for a Lakers team that has faced a lot of outside noise lately, seeing their two most popular players trade barbs and towels is a good sign. It remains to be seen if Reeves actually has a gift for Luka, but a 28-point road win over a rival is a very solid start.

Luka Doncic had a birthday he’ll never forget, and he ended it by sharing a laugh with the greatest shooter of all time. After the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday night, Doncic and Stephen Curry met with each other for a warm hug and some banter, even after a blowout.

The Slovenian superstar turned 27 on Friday, but the real party took place at the Chase Center. Doncic dominated right from the start and put up a massive line of 26 points, six rebounds and eight assists. He carved out the Warriors’ defense with surgical precision, shooting 9 of 17 from the field and connecting on four triples. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why the Lakers pushed all of their chips into the middle to get him.

Steph Curry and Luka Doncic share some laughs after Lakers’ win over Warriors 🔥

pic.twitter.com/4OCdHHq84s

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 1 March 2026

While the Lakers took care of business, Gui Santos did his best to keep Golden State in the hunt. The Brazilian finished 6 of 12 from the field with 14 points and two assists. The Warriors had no answer to the Lakers’ size and transition game, as Los Angeles outscored them in fast-break points.

This win is a big momentum boost for a Lakers team that has faced a lot of criticism recently. LeBron James anchored the interior with 22 points and nine assists, while Austin Reaves scored 18 points to provide the needed scoring balance.

For the Lakers, seeing their franchise cornerstone share a light-hearted moment with a legend like Curry signals a changing of the guard in the Western Conference. If Doncic continues to play at this MVP level, Los Angeles could be the “contender” everyone expected.

Lately, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had much to celebrate. They are on a three-game losing streak, which began with a loss to traditional rivals the Boston Celtics. So when Luka Doncic’s 27th birthday came, the entire Lakers team was seen celebrating it wholeheartedly.

LeBron James led the group in singing “Happy Birthday” for the Slovenian international player, who wears number 77 for both the Lakers and his national team. Doncic’s teammates then presented the highlight of the celebration before their game against the Golden State Warriors, a birthday cake shaped like a jersey but broken down the middle; According to a post on X by ClutchPoints, one half represents their national team, and the other the franchise.

Lakers wish happy birthday to Luka Doncic, who turns 27 today

(via @lakers)pic.twitter.com/CfHfr8ekrn

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 1 March 2026

“Slow-Lakers,” Doncic read from the cake, which quickly became a chant the entire room started chanting. The Lakers undoubtedly got reason to celebrate despite the loss, with Luka Magic turning 27 on February 28.

Regardless, the Lakers are still in sixth place in the West with a 34–24 record, but have lost significant positions to teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, who have a 37–23 record. Doncic and co. I have a simple way to eliminate slippage.

They have a relatively healthy roster with one each of Austin Reeves, LeBron and Doncic to call upon. In comparison, the Warriors are seriously handicapped, with Jimmy Butler and LJ Cryer out, the Curry brothers out, Kristaps Porzingis questionable and Draymond Green probable.

The Lakers need to steady the ship quickly to avoid sinking further, with teams like the Phoenix Suns (34-26) in close pursuit. The Suns handed them their third of three consecutive losses, two of which were against teams the Lakers had expected to beat.

In addition to the Celtics, the Lakers also lost to the Orlando Magic 110–109, which again came despite the presence of their big three players. A win would not only mean an end to the streak, but would also put an end to the noise over fitting their three biggest stars into the same starting lineup.

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to take on the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in what should be a competitive matchup between the two Western Conference teams. It’s also Luka Doncic’s birthday, and he’s preparing to continue his birthday streak.

During Doncic’s eight-year career, Saturday’s game will mark the sixth time he has played on his birthday. The now 27-year-old guard has recorded 30 or more points in the last three games played on his birthday. He scored 39 points in 2023, 30 points in 2024 and 31 points in 2025.

birthday luca 🤝 luca magic

Dončić on this day in the last 3 years:
▪️ 39 PTS (2023)
▪️ 30 PTS (2024)
▪️ 31 PTS (2025)

What does he have in store for his 27th night in the Bay today? 👀

Red/GSW | 8:30pm ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/igXpLif6hs

– NBA (@NBA) 28 February 2026

Luka Doncic should have a great chance to score at least 30 points against the Warriors. Especially considering he’s averaging a league-high 32.7 points per game. This is the third time in his career so far that he is averaging more than 30 points per game. The six-time All-Star is averaging 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals per contest, while shooting 47.0% from the floor and 35.7% from beyond the three-point line.

They will also have a chance to break the Lakers’ three-game losing streak. It’s been a tough stretch for Los Angeles lately, as the last two losses have been by three points or less. The Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns both beat LA thanks to some clutch shots and leads in the final seconds of those games.

The Lakers and Warriors are set to tip off at 8:30 PM EST. It will be in Golden State, making it the second consecutive road game for Luka Doncic and the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers finally find themselves in another tough game, this time against the Phoenix Suns. They lost their matchup earlier in the week against the Orlando Magic after a poor final game between Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Against the Suns, they had a chance to win again with the final possession, but Austin Reaves was not able to capitalize.

The Lakers have now lost five of their last seven games, and they are trying to get back on track during the second half of the season. After the game, Doncic explained what the team needs to do to get back in the win column.

“Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously, we didn’t start well [out of the All-Star break]But nothing is finished. “We just have to have the mentality of trying to win every game,” Doncic said.

“Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously we didn’t start well [out of the All-Star break]But nothing is finished. We just have to have the mentality to try to win every game” – Luka Doncic on what the Lakers, who have lost 5 of 7, need to do to get on track pic.twitter.com/Bjbd9nJutO

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 27 February 2026

Head coach JJ Redick offered another perspective on the recent loss, and he knows the spotlight is weighing heavily on them, just because of who they are.

“Our losses stand out more than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers — and that’s how we lose,” Redick said, via Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register.

The Lakers have also been healthy this stretch, which perhaps makes things more disappointing for them. The last two losses are nothing to be too concerned about as they have come down to final possession, but they are games they definitely want to win.

The Lakers are now 34-24 and in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, and there is a possibility they could fall in the play-ins. There is still enough time in the season for them to work hard and register some wins so that they can secure a comfortable place in the top six.

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their second consecutive loss on Tuesday with a home loss to the Orlando Magic. Luka Doncic had a chance to win it late, but he picked up his dribble and passed the ball to teammate LeBron James, who saw his desperation miss the rim.

Doncic later took responsibility for the mistake, which damaged his reputation as one of the NBA’s most lethal scorers. In fact, Doncic hasn’t appeared in the clutch with any consistency over the last two seasons, including during his time with the Dallas Mavericks.

“Over the past two seasons, 207 NBA players have made a shot to tie or take the lead in the final minute of a game,” according to the former stathead via Tom Haberstroh on Twitter. “Luka Doncic is not one of those 207 players. Tuesday night’s bizarre grenade on LeBron is no exception.”

Doncic has made a number of big plays at the buzzer throughout his career, including his shot to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the 2024 Western Conference Finals, but the trend has diminished significantly over the past two years, which is difficult to explain.

The Slovenian star can hit his shot against any defender in the league, and has a wide range of moves he can use to get to his position. For the most part the Lakers have specialized in close games this season, which largely helps explain their solid record despite a mediocre Nets rating, so Doncic’s clutch shortcomings aren’t affecting the team much, other than the loss against the Magic.

However, Los Angeles will definitely want to get Doncic a last-second shot once the playoffs begin.

The Lakers next play against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday evening.

NBA insider Mark J. Spears said Wednesday that he would choose LeBron James over Luka Doncic as the Los Angeles Lakers’ closer in late-game situations, citing James’ versatility and track record in tough times.

Speaking on NBA Today, Spears pointed to the final sequence of the Lakers’ 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, when Los Angeles had 6.7 seconds left and a chance to win. James inbounded the ball to Doncic, who then gave James an open look for a contested fadeway 3-pointer over Jonathan Isaac on the left wing.

“There aren’t a lot of players in the NBA who close out games better than LeBron James and in a one-to-two minute span, Luka made three shots, Austin made three shots. LeBron James is standing on the sideline and Desmond Benn is guarding him, he’s taller than Desmond Benn, fifty pounds heavier, and he’s there when they’re doing that one-on-one. And I think as great as Luka is, I want the ball. In LeBron James’ hands because he can take the ball to the basket, pass out to Luka, pass out to Austin, I don’t think he should have taken the ball out at the end of the game… and he’s too close and he didn’t get a chance to pass.

“I think as great as Luca [Doncic] I want the ball to be in LeBron James’ hands because he can take the ball to the basket, pass out to Luka, pass out to Austin [Reaves]…He’s too close and didn’t get a chance to close.

– Mark J. spearspic.twitter.com/WTkSYy3lio

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 25 February 2026

LeBron James, Luka Doncic’s stat lines fuel Lakers close debate

James finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 32 minutes. He shot 8 for 13 from the field and 3 for 4 from the free-throw line, while also knocking down two 3-pointers.

Doncic recorded 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds in 38 minutes but struggled with efficiency. He shot 8 of 24 from the field, 2 of 10 from 3-point range, and 4 of 9 from the free-throw line.

The late-game decision has fueled discussion about the roles played on key possessions for the Lakers, who fell to 34-23 with the loss and lost their second consecutive game. A four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP, James has long been considered one of the league’s most reliable finishers, especially in playoff settings. Doncic, meanwhile, has built a reputation as a high-usage playmaker capable of creating shots under pressure.

The Lakers are now trying to regroup as they begin a two-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns (33-26) on Thursday night starting at 6:00 pm PT. With competition tight in the Western Conference standings, clarity in late-game execution could prove crucial as Los Angeles enters the final stretch of the regular season.

Paolo Banchero capped the Orlando Magic’s four-game Western Conference road trip with a 36-point performance in a 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, but his impact extended beyond scoring. In consecutive matchups against Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, Banchero took over the primary defensive duties, highlighting his ability as an elite two-way player.

Wendell Carter Jr., who recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes – including the game-winning putback – praised Banchero’s defensive focus and competitiveness.

“Man, when P gets locked in defensively he’s one of the best in this league. In my opinion he has the potential to be one of the best two-way players to play this game. He had two big challenges the other night with Kawhi and then tonight with Luka. He accepted that challenge. When he’s in that mode, when he’s locked in, man, it unlocks his team and takes us to another level.”

On Sunday, Leonard scored 37 points against Orlando, adding eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, while shooting 14 of 25 from the field. Two nights later, Doncic faced a more disruptive defensive presence from the Magic. The Lakers star finished with 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, but shot 8-for-24 from the field and 2-for-10 from 3-point range while committing two turnovers.

Wendell Carter Jr. on Paolo Banchero’s defense this season:

“When P is off defensively, he’s one of the best in this league. He has the potential to be one of the best two-way players ever…When he’s in that mode, it takes us to another level.” pic.twitter.com/qHDu8BIgJ6

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

Paolo Banchero accepts the challenge of protecting elite scorers

Banchero addressed the defensive responsibility of protecting leading scorers throughout the league.

“Yeah, I think it’s just me, you know, accepting the challenge. You know, I think a lot of times, you know, coaches want to, you know, have some better players to guard a guy. They don’t have to expend as much energy. But, you know, getting Jalen out, Franz out, they’re our two best perimeter defenders. And so I know I’ve got to step up on that side of the ball. And I’m a big I feel like I’m a good defender, especially on one on, guarding big guys, big guards.”

He acknowledged the difficulty of controlling the stars but emphasized effort and physicality.

Paolo on defending Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic in the last two games:

“With Jalen and Franz out, I know I have to step up. I’m a big guy, I can step up. You can’t stop guys like that, but you can be tough on them – make them miss some, force them to work.” pic.twitter.com/HMurC2OMrI

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

“And so guarding guys like that, you can’t stop them from scoring, but you can get your heart on them, make them miss some shots, just make them expend a lot of energy. So that’s just what I’m trying to do. Kawhi obviously had a big night, but getting some stops and making it difficult and, you know, seeing him as a great player and just a creator with the ball in his hands, you know, he just Know what my body is trying to show you, be there when it’s trying to show off, pretend.

Banchero’s offensive output remained steady. Against the Lakers, he added 10 rebounds and six assists while shooting 12 of 22 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes.

Magic cover Luka Doncic as Banchero delivers late against Lakers

Head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the collective challenge of defending Doncic while highlighting Banchero’s timely shot making.

“Listen, sometimes when he shoots, you just have to hope it doesn’t go in. Because he’s so good and when the game was on the line, he took the big three that put them up by three. And Paolo comes back and hits one. As soon as he goes up in a corner, you know it’s good because that’s what he did. I’ve seen him do it. He did it when we were in Dallas when we played in Portland. I did the same thing. Saw the perfect shot. So you just have to keep mixing up the coverages against him, make it tough, try your best to make it without fouls, and just keep making it tough against him.”

Orlando limited Doncic’s efficiency, holding him below his season average of 32.5 points. With the win, the Magic improved to 31–26 and had road wins over both Los Angeles teams in the same season for the first time since 2012–13.

The Magic return home on Thursday to begin a four-game homestand against the Houston Rockets (35-21). As Orlando continues its push into the Eastern Conference standings, Banchero’s willingness to defend elite scorers while carrying the offensive load underscores the franchise cornerstone’s growing two-way ceiling.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is one of the league’s most electric stars, but he’s getting negative feedback from many NBA forecasters. Often during games, when Luka thinks he has received a foul call or when he feels he has been touched by a defensive player, he is seen arguing and pantomiming the referee. This has angered many media personalities and now ESPN’s Tim McMahon has come into the fray.

in the comments on espn RiseMcMahon went to Doncic to complain to the referee.

“Luka has had two glaring flaws in conditioning and crying throughout his career. The conditioning where he has made major progress, he is crying as much as he has ever seen before… I can tell you that Luka expresses his frustrations at the referees. So the more frustrated he is, the more he is crying, he is crying and he is, sometimes, more concerned about the three guys in the gray jersey and the five guys in the opposite jersey. And look, he is even though There will be defensive problems. It’s hard to play defense if you never cross half court because you’re worried about the call you didn’t get.

McMahon isn’t the only media member who has complained about Doncic’s approach. In a recent edition of his podcast in collaboration with sports agent Rich Paul Game overMax Kellerman ridiculously proposed that if Luka Doncic got a statue, it would be a pose of him arguing with the officials.

“And you know how [Pat] Riley has his idol? Do you know what a statue of Luka Doncic outside of crypto would be like, if he ever gets one? This is what is going to happen. This is the statue of Luca. With your arms outstretched, like this… every single trip, you’re complaining to the ref? Luca. Every trip below the destination? Even when he hits the shot? No, you will not get and-1. It is not possible that the referee will overrule every call of Luka Doncic.

Bill Simmons recently talked about what he sees as Doncic’s foul play bill simmons show podcast.

“The foul play is the worst it’s been in a while. It’s on the edge of not being worth watching. It’s every single play. Now it’s back to where it was, it was at its worst in Dallas when it got so bad that the Mavs finally had to call him out publicly. Yeah. It’s so bad that even LeBron is like, wow. Wow, what is this guy? This guy is really giving up on calls.

In recent episodes of FanDuel TV play it backLou Williams also criticized Doncic, saying that his complaining on fouls caused the Lakers to lose “inches of a game” of basketball.

“Basketball is a game of inches. You lose by one point because you give up possession after possession worrying the referees.”

On paper, Luka is having a great season. He currently ranks first in the league in points, averaging 32.5 per game, and has also added 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists. But Tuesday evening’s loss to the Orlando Magic in clutch time has increased criticism of the team and, in particular, of Luka’s behavior in these moments.

The Lakers look to snap their two-game losing streak against the Suns on Thursday at 9 p.m.

While ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe believes Luka Doncic is a basketball “genius”, he can no longer tolerate his frequent complaints to the referees and has called the Los Angeles Lakers star unwatchable.

The LA Lakers certainly don’t regret their spectacular trade from a year ago that landed them Luka Doncic, one of the best players in the NBA. In his first full season in LaLa Land, the 26-year-old not only leads the Lakers in scoring, but his 32.5 points average currently tops the league. He is second in the NBA in three-point makes (3.6) and third in assists (8.6).

Furthermore, the LA Lakers have a record of 34–23, which is sixth best in the conference. Although the LA Lakers may not want to be at this point in the season, they are still in the early stages of building a proper team around their new top star. However, despite his play, the reputation he grew in Dallas has begun to become a fixture in the team’s games this season, and he is constantly complaining.

Doncic’s constant nagging of NBA referees to call fouls is a common complaint about the six-time All-Star. And as he gets older, it’s getting worse. It’s gotten so bad lately that Zach Lowe is upset about it and he made a funny but fair comment about the Slovenian this week.

Luka Doncic stats: 32.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 35% 3pt

Lowe said in a new edition, “The crying is at an extreme level in Dallas. It’s every bullshit game.” zach lowe show. “Just play, man. Not everything is a foul. And, it’s almost like, are you playing to get fouled or are you playing basketball?

“Are you playing one-on-one with the referee, or are you playing a game? It’s every single possession now, it’s completely out of control, it’s absolutely unwatchable.”

While Lowe is tired of the constant complaining, he admitted that he is more frustrated because it is not absolutely necessary, and Doncic is a “basketball genius” who can “get any shot.” Unfortunately for him and other NBA fans, there are no signs that the LA Lakers star will stop his constant crying anytime soon.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

近期，洛杉矶湖人队主场惨败于波士顿凯尔特人队，再次陷入失利行列。对于卢卡·东契奇来说，这是一场艰难的比赛，他拿下25分，但在这场比赛中出手22次，只送出了3次助攻。

在整场比赛中，我们可以看到东契奇经常向裁判抱怨，这已经成为他整个职业生涯的标志，而对这种滑稽动作感到厌倦的人就是《The Ringer》的扎克·洛（Zach Lowe）。

“你打球是为了制造犯规吗？还是你在打篮球？现在每一次控球都是如此。完全失控……简直无法观看，”洛在 X（前 Twitter）上接受《NBA Courtside》采访时说道。

事实上，东契奇在整个职业生涯中都养成了通过修饰身体接触制造犯规以及直接对比赛官员大喊大叫的习惯，但在过去的几个赛季中，这两种习惯似乎都有所改善，可以追溯到他在达拉斯小牛队的时光，并继续到洛杉矶。

东契奇仍然是当今联盟中最好的进攻天才之一，他显然不需要为了获得分数而翻牌，从可观看性的角度来看，当他这样做时，这让球迷更加沮丧。

与此同时，湖人队的一些明显缺陷在输给凯尔特人队的比赛中得到了充分的体现，包括他们缺乏外线防守者，以及当事情进展不顺利时，他们倾向于在进攻中打观望篮球。

当然，东契奇仍然是NBA最好的球员之一，仅他的存在就让洛杉矶成为潜在季后赛球队的可怕对手。

然而，就目前而言，这支湖人队能走多远似乎存在一个硬性上限，而东契奇的滑稽动作只会增加挫败感。

Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers fell back into the loss column with a crushing home defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics. It was a tough game for Luka Doncic, who scored 25 points but took 22 shots to get there and dished out just three assists in the loss.

Throughout the game, Doncic could be seen repeatedly complaining to the referees, as has become his trademark throughout his career, and one person who is fed up with these antics is The Ringer’s Zack Lowe.

“Are you playing to foul? Or are you playing basketball? It’s every single possession now. It’s completely out of control … It’s not worth watching,” Lowe, formerly of NBA Courtside, said on Twitter, according to NBA.com.

In fact, Doncic has made a habit of calling fouls as well as yelling at game officials throughout his career, but both seem to have continued to Los Angeles over the past few seasons, dating back to his time with the Dallas Mavericks.

Doncic remains one of the best offensive talents in the league today, and he clearly doesn’t need to flop for calls to get his points, which somehow makes it more frustrating from a monitoring perspective for fans when he does.

Meanwhile, many of the Lakers’ glaring flaws were on full display in the loss against the Celtics, including their lack of perimeter defenders as well as their tendency to play stand-up basketball on offense when things were not going smoothly.

Of course, Doncic is still one of the best players in the NBA, and his presence alone makes Los Angeles a scary opponent for potential playoff teams.

However, for now, this appears to be a strict limit on how far this Lakers team can go, and Doncic’s actions are only adding to the frustration.

近期，洛杉矶湖人队主场惨败于波士顿凯尔特人队，再次陷入失利行列。对于卢卡·东契奇来说，这是一场艰难的比赛，他拿下25分，但在这场比赛中出手22次，只送出了3次助攻。

在整场比赛中，我们可以看到东契奇经常向裁判抱怨，这已经成为他整个职业生涯的标志，而对这种滑稽动作感到厌倦的人就是《The Ringer》的扎克·洛（Zach Lowe）。

“你打球是为了制造犯规吗？还是你在打篮球？现在每一次控球都是如此。完全失控……简直无法观看，”洛在 X（前 Twitter）上接受《NBA Courtside》采访时说道。

事实上，东契奇在整个职业生涯中都养成了通过修饰身体接触制造犯规以及直接对比赛官员大喊大叫的习惯，但在过去的几个赛季中，这两种习惯似乎都有所改善，可以追溯到他在达拉斯小牛队的时光，并继续到洛杉矶。

东契奇仍然是当今联盟中最好的进攻天才之一，他显然不需要为了获得分数而翻牌，从可观看性的角度来看，当他这样做时，这让球迷更加沮丧。

与此同时，湖人队的一些明显缺陷在输给凯尔特人队的比赛中得到了充分的体现，包括他们缺乏外线防守者，以及当事情进展不顺利时，他们倾向于在进攻中打观望篮球。

当然，东契奇仍然是NBA最好的球员之一，仅他的存在就让洛杉矶成为潜在季后赛球队的可怕对手。

然而，就目前而言，这支湖人队能走多远似乎存在一个硬性上限，而东契奇的滑稽动作只会增加挫败感。

Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers fell back into the loss column with a crushing home defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics. It was a tough game for Luka Doncic, who scored 25 points but took 22 shots to get there and dished out just three assists in the loss.

Throughout the game, Doncic could be seen repeatedly complaining to the referees, as has become his trademark throughout his career, and one person who is fed up with these antics is The Ringer’s Zack Lowe.

“Are you playing to foul? Or are you playing basketball? It’s every single possession now. It’s completely out of control … It’s not worth watching,” Lowe, formerly of NBA Courtside, said on Twitter, according to NBA.com.

In fact, Doncic has made a habit of calling fouls as well as yelling at game officials throughout his career, but both seem to have continued to Los Angeles over the past few seasons, dating back to his time with the Dallas Mavericks.

Doncic remains one of the best offensive talents in the league today, and he clearly doesn’t need to flop for calls to get his points, which somehow makes it more frustrating from a monitoring perspective for fans when he does.

Meanwhile, many of the Lakers’ glaring flaws were on full display in the loss against the Celtics, including their lack of perimeter defenders as well as their tendency to play stand-up basketball on offense when things were not going smoothly.

Of course, Doncic is still one of the best players in the NBA, and his presence alone makes Los Angeles a scary opponent for potential playoff teams.

However, for now, this appears to be a strict limit on how far this Lakers team can go, and Doncic’s actions are only adding to the frustration.

The role of point guard in the NBA has changed markedly in the modern game, with the true point guard becoming almost a rarity. Combo guards like Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic are prototypes for point guards in today’s NBA. Chris Paul, who recently announced his retirement, revealed his preference for who he would like to run.

During a recent episode of Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, ‘7 PM in Brooklyn,’ Chris Paul said he would take Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Luka Doncic, who he would like to play point guard in the NBA.

“We’ll be on the road, watching the game, but that [Shai] I would like to go to the gym. Loves going to the gym, will do all the work and takes care of his body. And I think the year we played together, they also started to see that defense matters,” Paul said. “You don’t have to be a lockdown defender or anything, but when you’re playing defense for your team, your teammates just want to see that starter really try to play defense.”

“When I was in Houston, Steph [Curry] He wasn’t the greatest defender back then,” Paul continued. “But now, Steph, he’s up the D. He plays really good defense. I have a lot of respect for Steph, Shai and all these guys who at least put in the effort on the defensive end because that’s part of it and that’s what your teammates want to see.

Defense is clearly the deciding factor for Paul in terms of who is the better option at point guard between Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.

Rich Paul was quiet when Max Kellerman blasted Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.

Paul and Kellerman took part on the February 18 episode of the Game Over podcast. The latter didn’t stop Doncic, calling out the Lakers star for constantly complaining to officials, while making bold comments about him and Boston Celtics head Jaylen Brown.

“Every single trip down the floor, you’re complaining to the refs. Luka, every single trip down the floor, you’re complaining to the refs. Even when he hits shots. No, you’re not going to get another one. And it can’t be that the refs blow every call on Luka Doncic,” Kellerman said at the 18:08 mark.

“Rich, you and I both saw it last night. Jaylen Brown is better than Luka Doncic. Better player, I’d like to have him on the team. If I had to start a team, I’d like to start it with Jaylen Brown.”

Paul responded, “Jaylen Brown is a very good player,” as Kellerman quickly responded, “He’s better than Luka.”

Luka Doncic, what’s next for the Lakers

It’s clear that Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the entire NBA. However, his tendency to make too many mistakes and complain to officials may present a flaw in his on-court mentality.

Doncic is going through his seventh season in the league, his second with the Lakers. He is playing at a high level, producing 32.8 points, 8.5 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game in 44 appearances. He is shooting 47.1% from the field, including 35.5% from beyond the arc and 77.6% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles has a record of 34–22 on the season, finishing fifth in the Western Conference standings. They have the tiebreaker advantage over the Minnesota Timberwolves and are ahead of the Phoenix Suns by two games. However, they trail the Houston Rockets by 0.5 games and the Denver Nuggets by one game.

The Lakers will prepare for the final game of an eight-game homestand. They will host the Orlando Magic as tip-off takes place on February 24 at 10:30 PM ET.

On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the loss column with a crushing home loss to the Boston Celtics. Luka Doncic put 25 points on the board in this one, but he wasn’t particularly efficient in getting there, shooting 9-22 from the field and dishing out just three assists.

Doncic was seen raising his hands and complaining to the referee throughout the evening, as well as apparently flopping in an attempt to get a call, which was widely mocked on social media.

Recently, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, a noted Celtics fan, reflected on the play.

“The foul nonsense is the worst it’s been in a while,” Simmons said, according to “It’s so bad that even LeBron is like, ‘Wow, this guy really sucks at calls.’ But I don’t think it helps them.”

James has been known to commit a foul or two during his illustrious career, but even his antics have never come close to the acrobatic routines that Doncic displays in an attempt to draw calls on a nightly basis.

This issue has been noted for Doncic dating back to his days with the Dallas Mavericks, as has his tendency to constantly argue with referees, and at some points, it threatens to eclipse the talent he is able to achieve on the basketball court, which he does not need to rely on foul play to generate.

Meanwhile, Lakers fans’ concerns about Austin Reaves’ ability to perform against good defense were proven justified by his performance on Sunday night, as well as the team’s lack of viable perimeter defenders.

Los Angeles is currently 34-22 on the season, and will have to fight to stay in the top six of the West during the season.

The Lakers will next take the field against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at 10:30 PM ET.

Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard continues to prove that he is one of the most underrated shotmakers in the NBA, as he sank a buzzer-beater before halftime against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.

Jaylen Brown drove hard into the lane to take the last shot, but was met by multiple defenders. With the game clock expiring, he threw the ball to Pritchard, who beat Luka Doncic and buried it. stepback three-pointer Logo’s pass gave the Celtics a nine-point lead at the break, 59–50.

Peyton Pritchard again 😱

Pritchard beat the buzzer beater in the second quarter to give the Celtics a two-point lead over the Lakers heading into halftime ☘️

pic.twitter.com/FBzvQndpWO

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Pritchard has a knack for making buzzer-beaters, so it’s no surprise he hit it. Remember his two half-court heaves in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks? Doncic probably does.

Many thought Boston would abandon the season, as Jayson Tatum was out with an Achilles injury and roster changes. But with the leadership of Brown, Pritchard and Derrick White, the Celtics have been a surprising threat in the Eastern Conference.

The 28-year-old Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has gotten even better with his scoring, entering his game against the Lakers with a career-best 17.4 points average. The extra resources he has received in Tatum’s absence have increased his confidence in his game.

At the time of writing, the Celtics are leading the Lakers by double digits in the fourth quarter.

Pritchard had 19 points, including five three-pointers, four rebounds and six assists off the bench.

Boston is looking for its third consecutive win.

Los Angeles – After a first quarter in which the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics were tied at 28 each, the Lakers could not keep pace with their historic rival and were outscored 83–61 the rest of the game and lost 111–89. According to Lou Murray of The Athletic, the 89 points were the second-lowest total this season for a Lakers team that has been explosive offensively, and Luka Doncic admitted it was not normal.

“I thought they were playing physical. They were playing great defense,” Doncic said during his postgame press conference. “We need a better offense. We scored 89 points. That’s not like us so we have to be better.”

Coming into the game against the Celtics, the Lakers were 12th in the NBA in points per game with 116.2 points. They were 10th in offensive rating at 117.6. The Celtics, on the other hand, came in second in the league in opponent points per game with 108.4 and eighth in defensive rating with 113.5.

The Celtics’ swarming defense was certainly on display, especially their use of deep drops and strong perimeter ball pressure.

“You just have to match the physicality … especially on the defensive end,” Doncic said. “You have to match the physicality.”

Doncic finished the game with 25 points in 33 minutes while shooting 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from the 3-point line. He also added five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

The Lakers’ offensive struggles were also highlighted by head coach JJ Redick, who felt the team generally played good enough defense to win games. This was a reversal of the team’s norm this season in which they have generally scored a lot of points, but struggled to stop opposing attacks.

“We did a good job limiting their fast break points, did a good job limiting their points in the paint. We played great defensively,” Redick said. “We were very aggressive tonight.”

For Redick, one of the key areas the Lakers struggled offensively was making shots at the rim and putting more pressure on the Celtics’ defense.

“I think there were opportunities to put more pressure on the rim, especially in the first half,” Redick said. “We took 11 non-paint twos. We were 13 of 29 on paint twos, non-rim paint twos. That’s not normally how we shoot. And then we got some good looks from three, we didn’t knock them down. You’ve got to make shots in this league.”

Redick added, “I think a lot of times when teams are on more downs than all of our guys playing pick and roll, it puts you in a bind of not having obvious options to pass.” “We’ve got to do a better job of finding guys and moving the ball.”

Before the game, the Lakers honored legendary coach Pat Riley, who battled against the Celtics in his day, by erecting a statue outside the team’s arena.

安东尼·爱德华兹无疑是联盟中最好的球员之一，有些人甚至认为他是 NBA 中最好的球员。现在，考虑到爱德华兹的同龄人有多有才华，很难给他加冕，但他与精英阶层的擦肩而过的事实对于明尼苏达森林狼队来说无异于一场巨大的胜利。

周五晚上，爱德华兹自全明星周末以来首次为森林狼队效力，这位 2026 年 NBA 全明星赛 MVP 继续了他的旅程。他为明尼苏达队拿下 40 分，帮助明尼苏达队以 122-111 战胜达拉斯小牛队，这是他在 2025-26 赛季的第八场 40 分比赛。

这让他置身于稀薄的空气中。 X 上的 ClutchPoints 官方帐户（以前称为 Twitter）指出，本赛季只有两名球员在单场比赛中至少八次拿下 40 分，爱德华兹和卢卡·东契奇都属于这个专属俱乐部。

爱德华兹本赛季场均得到29.5分，这使他在联盟中排名第三，仅次于东契奇和谢伊·吉尔杰斯·亚历山大。森林狼队成为西部黑马的有力竞争者是有原因的，而爱德华兹在其中发挥了重要作用。

森林狼队在对阵小牛队的比赛中没有放松油门

正是由于第一节的出色表现，森林狼队才在与小牛队之间创造了一个舒适的缓冲。比赛结束时他们已经领先 15 分，而爱德华兹在此期间只得到了 3 分。爱德华兹在第二局中表现出色，在 10 分钟内拿下 17 分，明尼苏达队在比赛的大部分时间里将达拉斯队困在了困境中。

爱德华兹在周五晚上对阵因脚伤而缺席的库珀·弗拉格的小牛队中表现出色。

Anthony Edwards is unquestionably one of the best players in the association, and some even believe he is the best player in the NBA bar one. Now, it’s hard to crown Edwards given how talented his teammates are, but the fact that he’s keeping pace with the elite is nothing less than a huge win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On Friday night, with Edwards playing for the Timberwolves for the first time since the All-Star break, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP picked up right where he left off. He scored 40 points for Minnesota to lead them to a 122–111 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and in doing so, he notched his eighth 40-point game of the 2025–26 campaign.

This places him in rarefied air; This season, only two players have scored 40 points in a single game at least eight times, with Edwards joining Luka Doncic in that exclusive club, as reported by the official ClutchPoints account on Ax (formerly Twitter).

Edwards is now averaging 29.5 points per contest on the season, which ranks him third in the association behind Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That’s why the Timberwolves are emerging as a secret contender in the Western Conference, and Edwards is a big factor in that.

Timberwolves don’t let off the gas pedal vs. Mavericks

It was thanks to a stellar first quarter performance that the Timberwolves managed to create a comfortable cushion between themselves and the Mavericks. At the end of the period they were already ahead by 15, and Edwards scored only three runs during that period. Edwards led the way in the second frame, scoring 17 points in 10 minutes, and Minnesota kept Dallas at bay for most of the game.

Edwards, who was without Cooper Flagg on Friday night due to a foot injury, battled his way against an overmatched Mavs team.

The Los Angeles Lakers faced the LA Clippers for the fourth and final time in the 2025-26 regular season, and it was another chance for Luka Doncic to play against a team he has struggled with more than any team in his career.

In their first game out of the All-Star break, the Lakers led by 14 points at the end of the first quarter, 41–27, thanks to Luka Doncic’s hot shooting start. In the first 12 minutes of the game, Doncic recorded 17 points, two rebounds and four assists, while shooting 6 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from three.

Doncic’s four assists led to a pair of three-pointers and a pair of two-pointers, meaning he accounted for 27 of the Lakers’ 41 points in the opening period.

Doncic’s 17-point first quarter marked the 30th time the guard recorded at least 10 points in a quarter against the Clippers. This is the 60th time that Doncic has recorded 10 or more points against the Clippers in a single quarter, including the regular season and postseason.

Tonight’s first quarter was the 60th time in Luka Doncic’s career that he recorded 10+ points in a quarter against the LA Clippers.

This was his 30th appearance in the regular season.

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

The only other player to have a quarter of 10 or more points against the Clippers is Kevin Durant, with 79 points. Doncic tied Stephen Curry’s 60 quarters of 10 or more points against the Clippers.

What is the difference between the three? Durant is currently in his 18th season in the NBA, Stephen Curry is in his 17th season, and Doncic is only in his eighth season. By the time it’s all said and done, who knows how far up on that list Luka Doncic will be.

Additionally, Luka Doncic has the second-most points per game average of any player versus the Clippers franchise.

Doncic’s 32.1 points per game average against the Milwaukee Bucks trails only Michael Jordan’s 32.3 points per game. The next three highest points per game averages against a single franchise are also owned by Michael Jordan (32.0 vs. the Cavs, 32.0 vs. the Knicks, and 31.9 vs. the Knicks).

Luka Doncic is averaging 32.1 points per game against the LA Clippers.

This is the second-highest career points per game average of any player versus one franchise (regular season and postseason). pic.twitter.com/Bw2fVALr7w

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

Entering Friday’s game, Luka Doncic had played 42 games against the LA Clippers, combining both the regular season and postseason. Their record in those games is 23-19.

洛杉矶湖人队巨星卢卡·东契奇决定给他的主教练J·J·雷迪克准备一个惊喜。

东契奇和雷迪克正在一起度过他们的第二个赛季。后者是他担任 NBA 主教练的第二个年头，而东契奇在湖人队去年二月从达拉斯小牛队收购他后，也经历了他在球队的第二个年头。

随着东契奇在洛杉矶适应舒适的生活，两人相处得很好。他们在球场内外创造了幽默的时刻，在湖人队的一场比赛结束后，东契奇决定给雷迪克一份惊喜礼物。

东契奇上周穿着一件夹克，在场边引起了雷迪克的注意。教练对这件夹克表现出了兴趣，并让这位明星后卫注意到他订购的夹克，并在赛后一段时间交付了这件夹克。可以肯定地说，雷迪克很欣赏他的明星球员的善意举动。

“我知道你想像我一样，”东契奇在视频中对雷迪克说道。

“我知道你想像我一样。”

卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 用他上周穿的那件夹克给 JJ Redick 带来了惊喜 😅

（通过 @湖人队）pic.twitter.com/yJJjpsKHAa

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 21 日

湖人队卢卡·东契奇的下一步是什么

对于卢卡·东契奇和 J·J·雷迪克来说，这是一个互相分享的美好时刻。对于希望带领湖人取得巨大成功的主教练和超级巨星来说，相处融洽非常重要。

东契奇在职业生涯的第八个赛季都在打出 MVP 级别的表现。他场均得到32.8分、8.6次助攻、7.8个篮板和1.5次抢断。他的投篮命中率为47.3%，其中三分线外命中率为34.5%，罚球命中率为78.1%。

洛杉矶队本赛季取得33胜21负的战绩，在东部积分榜上排名第五。他们领先于明尼苏达森林狼队和菲尼克斯太阳队，落后于丹佛掘金队和休斯敦火箭队。

在对阵洛杉矶快船队之后，湖人队将为下一场比赛做准备。美国东部时间 2 月 22 日下午 6:30，他们将留在主场迎战波士顿凯尔特人队。

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic decided to prepare a surprise for his head coach JJ Redick.

Doncic and Redic are going through their second season together. The latter is his second year as a head coach in the NBA, while Doncic is in his second year with the franchise after being acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks last February.

The pair have gotten along well as Doncic has settled into life in Los Angeles. They’ve been creating comedic moments on and off the court, and after one of the Lakers’ games, Doncic decided to give Redick a surprise gift.

Doncic wore a jacket last week, which caught Redick’s attention on the sidelines. The coach took an interest in the jacket, ordered the star guard and gave him the jacket shortly after the game. It’s safe to say that Redick appreciated the kind gesture from his star player.

“I know you want to be like me,” Doncic told Redick in the video.

“I know you want to be like me.”

Luka Doncic surprises JJ Redick with the same jacket he wore last week

(via @lakers)pic.twitter.com/yJJjpsKHAa

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

Luka Doncic, what’s next for the Lakers

It’s a great moment for Luka Doncic and JJ Redick to share with each other. It is important for the head coach and superstar player to get along well to lead the Lakers to major success.

Doncic is playing at an MVP level for the eighth full season of his career. He averaged 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 47.3% from the field, including 34.5% from beyond the arc, and 78.1% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles has a 33–21 record on the season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns, while trailing the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

Following their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers will prepare for their next contest. They will be at home when they host the Boston Celtics on February 22nd at 6:30 PM ET.

Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night thanks to a herculean effort from freshman guard Benedict Mathurin. But with the Clippers also playing the second night of a back-to-back set on Friday night, is Kawhi Leonard playing against the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Clippers currently have a record of 27–28, and have won 21 of their last 28 games after starting the season with a mediocre 6–21 record. The climb back up the standings and into the playoff race has been led by star Kawhi Leonard. Given his injury history and the upcoming back-to-back set, everyone wants to know if Leonard will play against the Lakers.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Lakers

Kawhi Leonard has played in 42 of the Clippers’ 55 games so far this season. He missed 10 games in November 2025 due to an ankle sprain suffered against the Miami Heat and another three games in January 2026 due to swelling in his knee due to a hard injury suffered against the Detroit Pistons a week earlier.

He played in the Clippers’ first game after the 2026 NBA All-Star break against the Nuggets, but battled an illness as he scored 23 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the field. He received a huge boost from new teammate Benedict Mathurin, who scored a career-high 38 points on 12 of 22 shooting in the win.

Entering Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kawhi Leonard is not listed on the Clippers’ injury report and is expected to play. However, it is worth noting that head coach Tyronn Lue has hinted at a minutes restriction on Leonard and that the team will likely limit his minutes as the season progresses.

“He’s on his minutes [restriction],” head coach Tyronn Lue admitted after Wednesday’s practice inside the Intuit Dome. “He’s on his schedule so we can’t overdo it. Like I said, we’re smart about it. We know we can’t just drop him to the ground. As much as he wants to play more and do more, we just know that with that load, we can’t keep it going night and day. So there will be some nights where it’s a little higher than others, but for the most part we want to make sure we’re safe with him.

Kawhi Leonard has played 41 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the three-throw line. His 27.8 points per night are a personal career high for the Clippers star, who has been tasked with carrying the scoring load during all the trades and injuries he has had to deal with.

The fourth and final matchup between the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM PST on ESPN.

LOS ANGELES – It’s been two weeks since Luke Kennard was signed to the Los Angeles Lakers following the NBA trade deadline, but Thursday was his first practice with the team. After his acquisition, the Lakers’ schedule did not allow any practice time, and then the All-Star break loomed. But considering the games he has played for the team so far, consider Luka Doncic a fan.

Luka Doncic has not played alongside Luke Kennard yet since he was sidelined with a hamstring injury during the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, which was just the game before Kennard’s debut. But after watching him on the court in subsequent games, and now after going through a practice session, Doncic likes the confidence that Kennard has whenever he blasts a shot from downtown.

“He was great in practice today. He’s been great just finding himself,” Doncic said after the Lakers’ practice Thursday. “He’s only played four games with us, so obviously he won’t be fit straight away, obviously he needs time. But in practice, whenever he takes a three, he always thinks it’s going to go in. It’s great to see.”

In Kennard’s Lakers debut, on February 7, in a win against the Golden State Warriors, he finished with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 26 minutes. He shot 4 of 7 overall, 2 of 4 from the 3-point line and most importantly, he closed the game as part of the crunch time lineup at the end of the fourth quarter.

Kennard has appeared in four games so far for the Lakers, including one start, averaging nearly 24 minutes per game. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists with a split of 62.5 percent shooting from the field and 45.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line. When averaging his 3-point percentage from earlier in the season with the Atlanta Hawks, Kennard leads the league with 49.4 percent.

For Lakers head coach JJ Redick, just being with the team is a good way to get through the on-court grind, especially when the entire group is able to practice.

“I just think every day when you’re with the group, it’s more comfortable,” Redick said. “He did his drills this morning, did a good job. He had a great practice today. It was good to have Luca and AR with us as well.”

Reddick mentioned earlier in the season that he used Pechakucha’s Japanese storytelling presentation format to help with team-bonding activities, and Kennard finally got his opportunity.

With the All-Star break now in the rearview, the Lakers resume the season at home against the LA Clippers on Friday.

The Los Angeles Lakers were certainly lucky to get Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade that continues to be talked about around the association. However, the Lakers have already built their roster with Anthony Davis in mind that L.A. hasn’t yet been able to surround Doncic with the pieces he needs to make a championship charge.

Currently, the Lakers sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, and they have glaring roster deficiencies that they were not able to address before the trade deadline. Their defense is missing a lot of pieces to help cover for Doncic and Austin Reaves’ shortcomings on that side of the ball.

Of course, it’s impossible to count out any team with Doncic and LeBron James either way. Still, James acknowledged that the Lakers are dealing with the same issues as they have in years past, even though Doncic is now his co-star instead of Davis.

“We’re playing good ball sometimes, but the number one important thing for us is health. We finally got healthy with AR coming back and then Luka went down with the hamstring. So that’s going to be most important for our team. And it’s been that way for our team the last couple of years,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

The Lakers’ injury problems keep them from getting into a more consistent rhythm

Every game seems like a dogfight for the Lakers, as their defensive limitations force them to constantly outshoot their opponents. Against lockdown defensive teams, the Purple and Gold have struggled, especially with Doncic, Reeves and James in and out of the lineup.

“We’re not set up to the point where we have a lot of room for error or, like, when Eddie was on the team. When Eddie goes down it’s like, crap. We don’t have enough to pick him up. When Luka goes down you know it’s crap, it’s Luka. AR was down, but it was tough for us,” James said.

Over the weekend, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was in attendance for the NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Jokic played very little for Team World at the festival as he is recovering from a recent knee injury, but he still seemed to enjoy most of the time during the weekend.

Jokic has long been known to be friends with fellow international NBA star Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers, and at one point, the Serbian big man cracked a joke at Doncic’s expense.

“Do you know why Luca [Doncic] Everything follows? Because he bets on everything. Gambling, gambling,” Jokic said on Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam’s Instagram page.

Doncic can only be seen shaking his head On digging.

“Do you know why Luca [Doncic] Everything follows? Because he bets on everything. Gamble, gamble.”

– Nikola Jokic ???

(via @pskills43/ig)pic.twitter.com/lQWRQkqLbr

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026

The NBA may be a bit sensitive to gambling-related jokes at the moment due to the recent arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier for alleged gambling activities.

However, that hasn’t stopped the league from going full force on its partnerships with various sportsbooks, with All-Star Saturday Night featuring live betting odds on NBC’s broadcast for various events.

Meanwhile, Jokic and the Nuggets are hoping to make a strong stretch run in the season after enduring a bit of a tough stretch leading up to the All-Star break. Injury problems have not been good for Denver this year, as both Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon are currently out with hamstring injuries.

The team recently brought back Jokic and Cameron Johnson from their injuries, and Jamal Murray has also been in and out of the lineup at times due to various ailments.

In any case, the Nuggets’ regular season resumes on Friday evening on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Every year, the NBA’s All-Star Game is heavily criticized by fans. Over the past few decades, the All-Star Game has transformed from a semi-competitive game between two conferences to a glorified shootaround between two teams. There have been some good All-Star Games, but they have been few and far between. Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant blamed Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic for their lackadaisical approach to the All-Star Game.

“You have to ask the European and world teams if they’re going to compete,” Durant said earlier. “If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic right now, let’s go back and see what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So we haven’t questioned what they’re doing. But we’re going to question the old heads and the Americans.”

This quote has generated considerable discussion: it is rare for a player to publicly call out his teammates, and Durant conceded defeat against two of the league’s best players. Now, Doncic has responded to Durant’s comments. In a recent interview with Slovenian sports website Sportsklub, the Lakers star revealed that the All-Star Game was treated loosely before he and Jokic arrived in the league.

“It was the same way when I first came to the All-Star Game, so I don’t know why they picked us,” Doncic said. “But I think it would be better because it’s the world against the United States.”

In fact, the Lakers star was right: The World vs. USA format lit a fire inside the players. Many fans praised the efforts of Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama during the game. Team USA ultimately won thanks to Edwards, but most spectators were happy to have an entertaining and competitive game for once.

Doncic earned his sixth All-Star selection this season and his fifth as a starter. The Lakers star is averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game this season. LA is in fifth place in the West with a 33-21 record before the All-Star Game.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards added another feat to his cap after being named All-Star Game MVP for the first time. He led Team Stars to the title in the mini tournament at the Intuit Dome on Sunday.

Edwards displayed his all-around talent, scoring 32 points, nine rebounds and three assists in three games. Team Stars avenged their defeat in the round robin by dominating Team Stripes 47–21 in the final.

Meanwhile, Team World lost two of its assignments despite a strong performance from San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. For Edwards, Team World would have been more competitive if Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic played more.

“No grudges against Luka and Jokic, but they’re two of the best players in the league, and they’re not trying to play in the All-Star Game,” the 24-year-old guard said.

“No complaints against Luka and Jokic, but like the two best players in the league, they don’t try to play in the All-Star Game.”

– Ant Man on World vs USA format https://t.co/y3LMLTBwir pic.twitter.com/TJ6c4dh3qS

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 16 February 2026

Doncic and Jokic failed to gel in Team World’s do-or-die game against Team Stripes. In their opening game against Team Stars, Doncic had two points and two assists, while Jokic did not score and had two rebounds.

Doncic has missed the Lakers’ last four games with a hamstring injury, while Jokic recently returned from a long layoff with a knee injury.

The lack of competition has been the main problem in the All-Star Game, as most players do not take it seriously. The NBA has changed the format several times, including this year, to increase the level of competition, but to no avail.

It doesn’t help that Lakers forward LeBron James made an offhand comment about the staging of this year’s Midseason Classic.

If more players cared as much as Edwards, the All-Star Game would be more watchable.

LOS ANGELES — As he explained Saturday, it was a short stint for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic during the NBA All-Star Game. Doncic took the court for the first time since suffering a minor hamstring injury during the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5.

During his media availability session as part of All-Star Weekend, Doncic admitted that he was only going to play a little bit in the actual game, and that his hamstring injury was looking good. Sure enough, Doncic only played five minutes in the first game of Team World’s new All-Star format, sitting out the second game. He finished with two points and two assists while shooting 1-3 from the field.

After Team World’s exit from the new All-Star Game tournament, Doncic explains how his injury felt after getting back on the court

“It was cool. Obviously I wanted to be there, the fans voted for me to be in this game so I wanted to be there and be a part of it a little bit,” Doncic said. “But [my hamstring] I liked it.”

Doncic missed four consecutive games after the injury. The Lakers went 3–2 in those games. They came into the All-Star break with a 33–21 record and fifth place in the Western Conference standings. They are only one and a half games behind the current No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets, but only one and a half games behind the No. 7 seed Phoenix Suns and the play-in spot.

As the Lakers try to build some stability during the final stretch of the season, one thing they are counting on is staying healthy. Injuries have forced the Lakers to shuffle their lineup, and while they have a full roster available, they have yet to find a consistent extension.

Doncic thinks that’s the main thing for the team to finish strong over the next few months.

“Just health,” Doncic said. “We are struggling with injuries a lot, so this will help.

In his first full season with the Lakers since the trade, Doncic appeared in 42 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals while splitting 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 78.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers will resume play after the All-Star break on Friday, February 20 at home against the LA Clippers.

LOS ANGELES – Luka Doncic missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ last four games before NBA All-Star Weekend with a hamstring injury. Doncic initially suffered the injury during the first half of the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, and was ultimately ruled out of the second half.

Ahead of the Lakers’ game against the Dallas Mavericks just before NBA All-Star Weekend, head coach JJ Redick remained optimistic that Luka Doncic can return from injury after the break. And during his All-Star media availability session on Saturday, Doncic acknowledged that he is feeling good in terms of getting back on the court and getting ready for the All-Star Game on Sunday.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m working to get back,” Doncic said. “Obviously I wanted to play the last game, but it wasn’t possible. I was almost there. So I think I’ll play a little bit.”

Doncic was not named to the All-Star team last season, breaking a streak of five consecutive selections. This will be Doncic’s first time being an All-Star as a member of the Lakers. He will be part of Team World in the NBA’s new format that will feature three teams in a round-robin tournament.

During the first half of the regular season, Doncic has been one of the top candidates for the NBA’s MVP award. Doncic has never won the award before, with his highest performance coming during 2023–24, when he led the league in scoring and finished No. 3 in the voting last fall.

Doncic currently leads the league in scoring with 32.8 points for the second time in his career. He has appeared in 42 games in just over 35 minutes per game. In addition to his points, he averaged 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals, including shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 34.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 78.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Doncic also leads the NBA in free-throw attempts at 10.9 per game.

After the All-Star break, Doncic’s first chance to return to the Lakers’ lineup is on February 20 against the LA Clippers.

As NBA All-Star festivities continue at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Luka Doncic expressed confidence that the Los Angeles Lakers have the ability to win a championship this season.

Speaking with Chris Haynes during Saturday’s NBA TV broadcast, Doncic made it clear the team’s objective remains unchanged despite injury setbacks and inconsistent availability among primary contributors.

“Obviously, we’re trying to win a championship. I think we can do it. We have the team to do it but obviously we’ve had a lot of injuries. Me, Bron and AR, everybody’s been out for a while. So now coming back from All-Star, I think everybody’s healthy. It’s going to be a good test for us.”

The Lakers entered the All-Star break with a 33–21 record, clinching the fifth seed in the Western Conference and firmly establishing themselves in the playoff picture. However, establishing continuity has been difficult. Doncic has missed 11 games this season, including the last four because of a strained left hamstring. LeBron James has been sidelined for 18 games due to sciatica, weight management and left foot arthritis. Austin Reaves has missed 22 games, 19 of which stem from a left calf strain.

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“Obviously, we’re trying to win a championship. I think we can do it. We have the team to do it… Coming back from All-Star, I think everyone is healthy. It’ll be a good test for us.”

Luka Doncic on Lakers’ title hopes 🗣️

(via @ChrisBHaynes)pic.twitter.com/QTThqZ3cak

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026

Luka Doncic confident Lakers can compete for championship despite injuries

As a result, Doncic, James, and Reaves only appeared in 10 games together, limiting the opportunity for the team to build chemistry during the first half of the season.

Despite those absences, Los Angeles remains within striking distance of the top of the conference. The Lakers are five games behind the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs (38-16) and 1.5 games behind the third-seeded Denver Nuggets (35-20).

The 26-year-old star is expected to recover from his hamstring strain during Sunday night’s All-Star Game, a sign that the Lakers anticipate having a healthy roster heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards apparently doesn’t care much for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic. During his Antland event hosted by Adidas at NBA All-Star Weekend, Edwards made a comment about Doncic while signing autographs for young fans.

A young fan wearing Luka Doncic’s jersey asked Anthony Edwards to sign it. However, the 24-year-old star made it clear how he feels about Doncic before turning down the young fan’s request. However, Edwards said it with a smile as he continued signing basketballs and other merchandise.

“I don’t really fuck with Luca [Doncic]Edwards said.

“I don’t really mess with Luca [Doncic]”

Anthony Edwards, after a young fan asked him to sign his Luka jersey

(via @stockx/tiktok)pic.twitter.com/GHTvVxswE9

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026

Both players were named All-Stars this year. However, Edwards is considering not playing due to injury, as he may opt to rest in preparation for the final portion of the regular season. Doncic, meanwhile, is expected to play in the All-Star Game.

The Timberwolves and Lakers have played against each other twice so far this season, with Los Angeles winning both contests. The two teams are scheduled to play for the third time on March 10, giving Anthony Edwards and his teammates a chance to avoid a season sweep. Either way, these games are a fun matchup, as Edwards and Doncic are superstar talents in the NBA.

Edwards, who is in his sixth season in the league, was named an All-Star for the fourth consecutive year. He has been a monster for the Timberwolves this season, as he has averaged 29.3 points (career-high), 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 49.3% from the floor and 40.2% from beyond the three-point line.

Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is headed for the Lakers. The 26-year-old guard is averaging 32.8 points (league leader), 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per contest this season. He also has a 47.3% field goal percentage and 34.5% three-point percentage.

Ahead of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic’s sixth All-Star Game appearance, he talked about the longevity of his career, one month away from teammate LeBron James’ 41st birthday. As for Doncic, he can’t see himself in James’ shoes during the 26-year-old’s eighth NBA season.

Doncic sees a long career ahead of him, but he’s not sure if he’ll still be able to do it Playing basketball at the age of 41he said, according to ESPN’s SportsCenter.

“Definitely not 41,” Doncic said. “I won’t play until 41, I’ll tell you that.”

“Definitely not 41. I won’t play until 41, I’ll tell you that.”

At what age does Luka Doncic intend to retire😅

(via @sports center)pic.twitter.com/OKkWTcdEpr

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026

In his 23rd season, James is still playing at an elite level, averaging 22.0 points on 50.2% shooting, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. While it’s hard to imagine LeBron retiring at the end of this season, at the very least, one more season will welcome a 24th season in 2026-27, when James turns 42.

Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic still has some way to go before he can even think about making it a career. Perhaps a conversation for their amusement about a decade from now.

LeBron James hints at retirement after Lakers’ win

Lakers veteran LeBron James isn’t waiting for his play to decline to retire. Keeping NBA fans excited, James will do this Retire on your own termshe said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“My game is not going anywhere,” James said, via Dave McMenamin. “It’s all these other things, it’s a lot of other factors that go into how long the game has to be played. I don’t think it would ever have any impact on my game if I decided to continue playing, no matter how long it is. I think it should be [my mind]:How long can I stay in love with this process?

“If I can’t continue to be in love with this process, if [my mind] If it goes, my body is going to go. And once my body is gone, it’s a wrap.

James and the Lakers entered the All-Star break 33–21, the fifth-best record in the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephen Cassel has the tough job of guarding the Los Angeles Lakers’ two top leading scorers, All-Star Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Whenever the Spurs face the Lakers or Thunder, it is his responsibility to be in front of the NBA’s leading scorers. Castle is one of the most promising guards in the league due to his impressive two-way play.

He fills out the stat sheet as a scorer on one end of the floor and a skilled playmaker who can defend at high level On the other. According to ESPN’s NBA Today, Cassel talked about defending Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander in their respective Spurs matchups against the Lakers and Thunder.

Cassel said, “I’m very proud of it. I ask for those matchups. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I think I can be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.” “Day by day, that’s just what I’m trying to prove.”

“I’m very proud of it… I ask for those matchups. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I think I can be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.”

Stephen Cassel explains what it’s like to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic 🗣️pic.twitter.com/JgigTeCfxW

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026

Cassel played a key role in the Spurs’ three consecutive wins over the Thunder over 12 days in December, including their Christmas Day showdown, which turned into a blowout victory. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 22 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including 1-of-6 from deep. In only his second season, Castle is having a breakout campaign for the Spurs.

In a 138–125 win against the Dallas Mavericks, he made NBA history by becoming the youngest NBA player to record a 40/12/12 triple-double. He finished with 40 points, 12 assists, 12 rebounds, three steals and one block.

Harrison Barnes on Spurs’ Stephen Cassel All-Star consideration

While Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry has recovered from a knee injury suffered in the NBA’s big weekend, Spurs veteran forward Harrison Barnes says Stephen Cassel was deserving of All-Star consideration to replace SGA. Barnes also supported the other half of the Spurs’ backcourt in De’Aaron Fox as another option.

Barnes says Spurs have second-best record in Western Conference either guard must be replaced Curry.

“It would be criminal if he did that [Castle] And Fox did not notice him. We’re ranked No. 2 in the West,” Barnes said. “I think what we’ve done is, for the teams below us that had two All-Stars, I don’t know of any case that if we’re talking about the impact on winning and playing high-level basketball, why one of them shouldn’t be selected and/or be highly considered for those spots.”

Harrison Barnes advocated that at least one of his two Spurs teammates should have been named an All-Star alternative to Steph Curry:

“It would be criminal if [Stephon Castle] And [De’Aaron] Fox did not notice. …What we have done, for the teams that are below us… pic.twitter.com/Xjf3Fk9uz0

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 February 2026

Although the NBA has announced Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram as Curry’s replacement, De’Aaron Fox will replace the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo at All-Star Sunday.